Twelve Filipinos Jailed in Lagos for Cyber-Terrorism and Internet Fraud

Justice Yellin Bogoro of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday, May 23, 2025, convicted and sentenced twelve Filipino nationals to one year in prison each for offences related to cyber-terrorism and internet fraud.

The convicted individuals are: Anjeanette Topacio, Gladys Joy Mag-Iba, Jean Calago, Shairah Mae Reyes, Roseann Gonzales, Lari Jane Tayag, Mary Grace De La Cruz, Krystel Aquilesca, Jonilyn Agulto, Paizza Camara, Vivian Pionella, and Jonalyn Mendoza.

They were arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on separate charges of possessing fraudulent documents.

One of the charges read: “That you, Anjeanette Topacio, sometime in December 2024, in Lagos, willfully accessed computer systems organized to destabilize and destroy Nigeria’s economic and social structure by employing Nigerian youths for identity theft and impersonation of foreign nationals, thereby committing an offence under the Cybercrimes and Terrorism Prevention Acts.”

Another charge against Shairah May Reyes alleged that she possessed a fraudulent Telegram document in which she falsely claimed to be a UK-based woman, intending to defraud unsuspecting victims.

All twelve defendants pleaded guilty to the charges. Prosecuting counsels N.K. Ukoha and H.U. Kofarnaisa urged the court to convict them based on plea bargain agreements reached with the EFCC.

Justice Bogoro sentenced each defendant to one year imprisonment and a fine of N1,000,000.00. He also ordered that the convicts be repatriated to the Philippines within seven days of completing their jail terms.

Devices recovered from the suspects were forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.